The latest Boeing and aerospace news, including updates about the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 747-8 and 737, Airbus A380 and A350, the anticipated Boeing 797 and Boeing jobs and layoffs

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Leahy on A350-1000 vs 787-10/777X

In comments to Flight International, Airbus sales boss John Leahy indicated British Airways is leaning toward the A350 rather than Boeing’s 787-10 or a possible 777X.

The airline has said it expects to decide by the end of this year on its second round of orders to replace its long-haul jets. BA previously went with the 787 and A380 but passed on the 747-8 Intercontinental and said it would further evaluate the A350, 777X and 787-10.

Boeing is expected to decide before the end of this year how big to make the 787-10, but it likely will be around 310 seats; certainly not the 350 seater than some airlines like Qantas want. Qantas is talking to Airbus about the A350-1000

At some point, Boeing must decide what it will do to make the 777-300ER more competitive against the A350-1000, but it has time because the biggest A350 model won’t enter service until 2015 at the earliest.

Boeing boss Jim McNernery said earlier this month he does not expect any decision this year about the 777.

Of course, Boeing also has the option of launching development of an all-new plane to eventually replace the 777. Boeing jetliner boss Scott Carson has said such a plane would cover the market from about 300 to 400 seats. But Boeing has said it does not expect a 777 replacement to be ready for airlines until around 2020.

And then there is the debate about what to do with the 737.
Boeing, as well as Airbus, continue to push out until after 2015 entry into service of new single-aisle jets to replace the 737 and A320.

Meanwhile, Leahy is feeling confident about Airbus’s chances in phase two of the BA campaign to replace the bulk of its 747-400 fleet, where the A350 XWB is up against the proposed 787-10 and “777X” design study. The airline’s chief executive Willie Walsh has said that he aims to reach a decision on this deal before the end of the year.

The 787-10 is “too small” so Boeing “is looking at what it can do with the 777 as the -300ER is not competitive with the A350-1000,” says Leahy.

“We feel we have the right aircraft with the A350 and BA is leaning in that direction,” he adds. Leahy does not expect Boeing to be ready to finalise its 777 development plans this year “unless it pulls a rabbit out of a hat”.

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